The Slippery Amphibian of Politics: Gerrymandering and what it means for your voting rights

Thursday, Feb. 8

On the heels of the recent PA Supreme Court decision that the state's congressional map is unconstitutionally gerrymandered, "The History of Gerrymandering and Its Impact on Pennsylvania," a free lecture at the Jefferson Educational Society on Feb. 8., should prove compelling.

Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of political science at Penn State Erie, will outline practices and strategies of gerrymandering, as well as extreme examples of it across the U.S. and how some states have attempted to thwart it.

Dr. Carol Kuniholm, co-founder and chair of Fair Districts PA, will be on hand to describe Pennsylvania's current process and explain the influence that the 2011 redistricting had on the state. She will offer ways for citizens to help advocate for reform.

Pre-registration is required for this presentation that comes on the eve of the court's deadline for new lines to be drawn up and sent for approved to PA Governor Tom Wolf. If nothing is submitted by Feb. 9, or if the governor fails to approve it, the court said it would adopt its own map, based on the evidence presented during a one-week civil trial in December. — Mary Birdsong

7 p.m. // Jefferson Education Society // 3207 State St. // 459-8000 // jeserie.org/events